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Australian Bird of the Year

Our top moments of 2023

Thursday, 21 December 2023

  • Estimated reading time 2 minutes
Photographed by Jayden Gunn

2023: a year in review

As 2023 draws to a close, we’re counting down our most memorable moments from another year celebrating and protecting Australia’s birds.  

In no particular order:

1. Sea-EagleCAM

In 2023, the BirdLife Australia Discovery Centre‘s live-feed of their resident nesting pair of White-bellied Sea-Eagles once again captured the hearts and minds of thousands of Australians.

2. Your 2023 Bird of the Year

In a win for threatened species, the Critically Endangered Swift Parrot enjoyed a last-minute surge in votes, and was crowned the winner of BirdLife Australia X The Guardian’s Australian Bird of the Year.

A cropped close-up portrait of a colourful Swift Parrot against a black background, facing to the left. A golden crown sits on its head.
The 2023 Australian Bird of the Year, the Critically Endangered Swift Parrot. Photo by Jayden Gunn.

3. The finalists of the 2023 BirdLife Australia Photography Awards

After wowing our judges, the shortlisted entries in the 2023 BirdLife Australia Photography Awards are a must-see.

View the finalist gallery here.

To the right of the frame, a Beach Stone-curlew is sitting on the sand of a beach and staring at a pink Goat's Foot flower.
The stare by Spencer Hitchen, shortlisted in the Youth category

4. AI finds Eastern Bristlebirds

With the help of Artificial Intelligence, our team detected the Endangered species in South East Queensland, in an area where they hadn’t been recorded in 3 years.

To the right of the frame, a brown Eastern Bristlebird is perched on a branch against a green background
An Endangered Eastern Bristlebird by Lachlan Hall

5. Another successful Western Ground Parrot translocation

The third translocation saw 5 more Critically Endangered birds moved to a safe haven.

A Critically Endangered Western Ground Parrot being fitted with a transmitter during a translocation.
A Critically Endangered Western Ground Parrot being fitted with a transmitter during a translocation. Photo by Helena Stokes

6. Celebrating 10 years of the Aussie Bird Count

And in 2023, we celebrated our 10th Aussie Bird Count, now Australia’s largest citizen science event.

The BirdLife Australia and Aussie Bird Count logo against a blue background, surrounded by a number of cartoon illustrations of common backyard birds.
Celebrating 10 years of the Aussie Bird Count. Illustration by Angharad Neal-Williams.
Thank you for your support in 2023! We hope you have a wonderful festive season – see you in 2024!